Vertical forward grip

<p>Forward grips aid in the maneuverability of the firearm, since the natural angle of a person's outstretched hand is more oriented to grasping objects at a vertical angle, rather than a horizontal one perpendicular to the body.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> Foregrips can decrease accuracy in precision rifle shooting if the shooter tends to "muscle the weapon".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a>
</p><p>Vertical foregrips can have features located inside the inner diameter, such as a deployable bipod inside the grip's housing.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> The grip may also have a <a href="/facts/Tactical_light/qHurQd1l">tactical light</a> and the control switches molded into the grip's assembly. Other designs may contain storage space for spare parts, spare batteries for optics, weapon lights, or small first aid gear.
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<h2 id="stubby-grip">Stubby grip</h2>

<p>A shorter version is referred to as a "stubby grip" and is primarily intended to keep the shooter's hand from moving forward of the muzzle.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a>
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<h2 id="angled-forward-grip">Angled forward grip</h2>

<p>Angled forward grips can provide similar functionality to vertical forward grips. They differ in that a vertical foregrip is more useful for "driving" the weapon, while an angled foregrip is more effective at pulling the weapon into the shooter's shoulder while keeping the offhand wrist in a comfortable and manageable position, which helps with accuracy. Some angled foregrips are designed to be used with the C Clamp grip which allows good pointability (as vertical foregrips allow) as well as better accuracy because of the shooter's more firm purchase on the weapon. <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a>
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<h2 id="legality-on-pistols-in-the-us">Legality on pistols in the U.S.</h2>
<p>The legality of vertical foregrips on pistols in the United States is unclear. In the United States, firearms are categorized by the <a href="/facts/National_Firearms_Act/7Fqu6Et8">National Firearms Act</a> and firearms manufactured with specific features are subject to restrictions and controls.
</p><p>In May 1993, in response to legal action brought by the <a href="/facts/Bureau_of_Alcohol%2c_Tobacco%2c_and_Firearms/orftTb48">Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms</a> (ATF), the South Carolina District Court's finding of fact concluded that a pistol modified with the addition of vertical fore grips was still a pistol and not any other weapon device.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> 
</p><p>In an open letter sent to <a href="/facts/Federal_Firearms_License/GRxhvMTt">Federal Firearms Licensees</a> in April 2006, the ATF stated their interpretation of the law: that installing a vertical forward grip on a handgun is the same as manufacturing an Any Other Weapon (AOW) category firearm and subject to registration and taxation, with significant penalties for manufacturing or possessing such an unregistered weapon.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a>
</p><p>The ATF has stated that angled grips do not make an AOW from a handgun.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a>
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<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Glossary_of_firearms_terms/B78u0Jlg">Glossary of firearms terms</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to foregrip.

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Mann, Richard A. (30 April 2014). Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to the AR-15. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 105. ISBN 978-1-4402-3847-5. <a href="978-1-4402-3847-5" target="_blank">978-1-4402-3847-5</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Jane's International Defense Review: IDR. Jane's Information Group. July 2000. pp. 61–62. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=ly9EAQAAIAAJ" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=ly9EAQAAIAAJ</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>"M4 Grip Pod Popular in the Field". 28 November 2017. <a href="https://www.military.com/kitup/2010/06/m4-grip-pod-popular-in-the-field.html" target="_blank">https://www.military.com/kitup/2010/06/m4-grip-pod-popular-in-the-field.html</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Jane's International Defense Review: IDR. Jane's Information Group. July 2000. pp. 61–62. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=ly9EAQAAIAAJ" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=ly9EAQAAIAAJ</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Bob Boyd (29 July 2011). "Magpul Angled Fore Grip (AFG2)". Shooting Illustrated. <a href="http://www.shootingillustrated.com/index.php/12874/magpul-angled-fore-grip-afg2/" target="_blank">http://www.shootingillustrated.com/index.php/12874/magpul-angled-fore-grip-afg2/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>U.S. v. Davis, Cr. No. 8:93-106, Report of Magistrate <a href="http://www.titleii.com/bardwell/us_v_davis2.txt" target="_blank">http://www.titleii.com/bardwell/us_v_davis2.txt</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>U.S. Department of Justice, Open letter to Federal Firearm Licensees concerning Adding a Vertical Fore Grip to a Handgun. Published April 10, 2006. <a href="https://www.atf.gov/press/releases/2006/04/041006-openletter-nfa-adding-vertical-fore-grip.html" target="_blank">https://www.atf.gov/press/releases/2006/04/041006-openletter-nfa-adding-vertical-fore-grip.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:8"><p>ATF Letter 903050:MCP. 3311/2010-1021. 30 August 2010. Online version. <a href="https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B0qyloA48O3XZWFjYjMwYTMtYTg1MC00NzVhLWI3NmMtZDRiNTMzNzdhMzUx&hl=en&pli=1" target="_blank">https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B0qyloA48O3XZWFjYjMwYTMtYTg1MC00NzVhLWI3NmMtZDRiNTMzNzdhMzUx&hl=en&pli=1</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Vertical forward grip open-in-new

Vertical forward grip